You have probably seen the commercial where the lady is talking in a young girl voice about how avocados are a “super food.” Though the commercial is quite annoying, is there any truth to the claim? Well, yes, there is. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a super food is defined as “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.” Avocados are low in fructose and rich in fiber, Potassium, Vitamin E, Folic Acid, B Vitamins, and about 20 other essential nutrients.
“Avocados have a long list of potential health benefits. For example, besides its anti-inflammatory properties, previous research from Japan suggests this powerful fruit may also help protect against liver damage. In one study, laboratory rats were fed avocado and 22 other fruits. The rats were then given D-galactosamine, a potent liver toxin that interferes with cell synthesis and results in cell death. The rats fed avocado suffered the least amount of liver damage. The chemical-induced liver injuries resemble those caused by viruses, so the researchers suggested avocado could potentially offer support in the treatment of viral hepatitis. According to one lead author Hirokazu Kawagishi, Ph.D:
“Besides offering taste and nutrition, avocados seem to improve liver health. People should eat more of them.” ”
According to a Dr. Mercola article, avocados “enable your body to more efficiently absorb fat-soluble nutrients (such as alpha- and beta-carotene and lutein) in other foods eaten in conjunction. One 2005 study, found that adding avocado to salad allowed the volunteers to absorb three to five times more carotenoids antioxidant molecules, which help protect your body against free radical damage.”
What’s the best way to eat an avocado, you might ask. There are several ways. One thing to remember is research has shown that “the greatest concentration of beneficial carotenoids is in the dark green fruit of the avocado closest to the peel.” Avocados can be used instead of oil or butter in baking, as the first solid food for babies, or in salads, eaten raw. Visit http://www.californiaavocado.com/recipes/ to find unique recipes using avocados.
